OTTAWA, ON, UNCEDED ALGONQUIN TRADITIONAL
TERRITORY, June 20, 2024 /CNW/ - Protecting the human
rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis is essential to creating a
fair, inclusive and equitable society where everyone can live with
dignity, authenticity, and safety.
On June 18, the Honourable Arif
Virani, Minister of Justice and
Attorney General of Canada, tabled
the third annual progress report on the implementation of the
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Act (UN Declaration Act). The report tracks federal government
progress made to implement the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) in Canada by following our roadmap: the UN
Declaration Act Action Plan, released in June 2023.
The perspectives of more than 50 First Nations, Inuit and Métis
rights holders and representative organizations and reporting
from over 40 federal government departments and agencies form the
foundation of this year's report.
Highlights of progress made on Action Plan measures this year
include:
- developing an Indigenous Justice Strategy to address systemic
discrimination and the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in
the criminal justice system (Shared Priorities Measure 28)
- advancing water and wastewater service transfer to First
Nations communities, including through the introduction of Bill
C-61, An Act respecting water, source water, drinking water,
wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands (First
Nations Priorities Measure 17)
- consulting with Indigenous partners and representative
organizations on border-crossing challenges long faced by
Indigenous peoples whose traditional territories are divided by
colonial borders (Shared Priorities Measure 52)
- revitalizing Indigenous languages by continuing to implement
the Indigenous Languages Act (Shared Priorities Measure
92)
- ensuring consideration of Aboriginal and Treaty rights in all
federal laws (Shared Priorities Measure 2 – non-derogation
clause)
This year's report also identifies key areas for improvement
going forward. These include the need for better coordination
across the federal government, respectful yet efficient timelines
for collaborative work and developing performance measures to
better evaluate progress, adequate funding, and clear
accountability.
While we have made progress, there is much more work ahead and
we recognize the urgency to act and do more. In the year
ahead, we look forward to working with Indigenous
partners and across all government departments and agencies to
accelerate and improve implementation of the UN Declaration
Act.
We all have a role to play in upholding the human rights of
First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Together we can build a more
inclusive, harmonious and prosperous Canada for all.
Quotes
"Equality and justice are strengthened when we uphold the human
rights of Indigenous peoples. Moving forward, we will continue to
do the utmost, in consultation and cooperation with First Nations,
Inuit and Métis, to ensure that the UN Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, the UN Declaration Act and the Action Plan are
fully implemented in Canada."
The Honourable Arif Virani
Minister of Justice and Attorney
General of Canada
"The UN Declaration Act and the related Action Plan are key
parts of the roadmap to reconciliation. They help guide
Canada's collaborative efforts
with Indigenous partners to address the harmful legacies of
colonization, and build renewed relationships based on a
fundamental respect for Indigenous rights. While much remains to be
done, I am looking forward to advancing this transformative work
together."
The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
"The joint work with Indigenous partners to fully implement the
UN Declaration Act and the Action Plan to advance
self-determination for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis is critical.
The recent signing and the ongoing implementation of the Nunavut
Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement is an example of the
collaborative efforts to realize the goal of economic, social, and
cultural well-being of Nunavummiut through self-determination.
Working together based on the affirmation of rights, respect,
co-operation and partnership is key to achieving reconciliation
with Indigenous Peoples in Canada."
The Honourable Dan Vandal
Minister of Northern Affairs
"The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples guides our work toward self-determination. From water, to
housing, access to medical services and everything in between, it
is essential that First Nations, Inuit and Métis lead the way,
because communities know best what they need. This Government will
always follow the lead of Indigenous partners, because this is the
only way we can walk on the path to reconciliation and create a
fair future for Indigenous partners."
The Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Indigenous Services
"The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples Act has the potential to bring meaningful, positive and
lasting change to how Indigenous peoples, communities and
businesses participate in sustainable natural resource development.
NRCan continues to work with Indigenous partners with a view to
achieving a more sustainable, equitable, and economically fair
future for the development of natural resources."
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
"We recognize the historic discriminatory government policies
that contributed to the erosion of First Nations, Inuit and Métis
languages in Canada. Together, we
must build a path towards linguistic empowerment. On June 21, we will celebrate the fifth anniversary
of the Indigenous Languages Act, which continues to support
Indigenous Peoples in reclaiming, revitalizing, maintaining and
strengthening their languages."
The Honourable Pascale St-Onge
Minister of Canadian Heritage
"Everyone in Canada deserves to
feel safe in their communities – and that's the principle that will
continue to guide our work, in partnership with our provincial and
territorial partners and Indigenous communities across the
country."
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and
Intergovernmental Affairs
"First Nations, Inuit and Métis have long called on Canada to address mobility rights across
international borders with the United
States and Greenland. These
borders have impacted families and communities for generations, and
impeded their ability to build and maintain connections across
their traditional territories. Indigenous mobility rights remain a
top priority, and we will continue to consult and collaborate with
Indigenous peoples on this front, as part of our commitment to
reconciliation."
The Honourable Marc Miller
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
"Indigenous partners recognize that the challenges posed by
climate change and biodiversity loss are inherently interconnected
and demand integrated solutions. Together, we are braiding
Indigenous knowledge systems with Western science for on-the-ground
conservation, research and monitoring of biodiversity and climate
change in Canada. Indigenous-led
conservation is one of the most important avenues for achieving
Canada's biodiversity objectives
and sustaining long-term conservation, providing a tangible pathway
forward towards advancing Reconciliation."
The Honourable Steven Guilbeault
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
"Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard are
committed to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and
to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples. From coast to coast to coast, we're
committed to advancing Indigenous fishing rights and respecting
self-determination; enhancing collaboration and transparency with
First Nations, Inuit and Métis governing structures and
institutions; supporting Indigenous-led conservation efforts; and
integrating Indigenous Knowledge to better manage fisheries,
protect marine ecosystems, and ensure safe and accessible waterways
for everyone."
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
"Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples involves
learning from the past and taking steps in the present to support
their self-determination and self-governance. This means working
together with Indigenous leaders to develop and implement First
Nations, Inuit and Métis-led solutions. Today is a reminder of the
progress we have made, and the work that remains in upholding the
human rights of Indigenous Peoples."
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official
Languages of Canada
Quick facts
- The UN Declaration is an international human rights instrument
that sets minimum standards to protect the survival, dignity, and
wellbeing of Indigenous peoples.
- The UN Declaration is the result of almost 25 years of work and
collaboration between United Nations Member States and Indigenous
peoples from around the world, including Indigenous leaders from
Canada, who played a significant
role in its development, including drafting and negotiating.
- The UN Declaration Act came into force on June 21, 2021, providing a framework for taking
action to uphold the human rights of Indigenous peoples and move
forward with reconciliation in a historic, transformational and
action-oriented way.
- The UN Declaration Act provides an historic opportunity to
ensure Canada is a place where the
human rights of Indigenous peoples, as affirmed in the UN
Declaration, are recognized and respected, upheld and
implemented.
- On June 21, 2023, the UN
Declaration Act Action Plan, developed in consultation and
cooperation with Indigenous peoples from across Canada, was released. This work is a turning
point in ensuring lasting positive change for all.
- As described in the UN Declaration Act, the Government of
Canada must fulfill three
inter-related legal obligations in consultation and cooperation
with Indigenous peoples:
- Take all measures necessary to ensure the laws of Canada are consistent with the UN
Declaration
- Develop, by June 2023, and
implement an action plan to achieve the objectives of the UN
Declaration
- Develop annual reports on progress and submit them to
Parliament
Related products
- Third Annual progress report on the implementation of the
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Act
- UN Declaration Annual Reports webpage
Associated links
- United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples Act Action Plan
- Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples
- Read the Declaration
Stay connected
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Canada on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
- Follow Minister Virani on Twitter: @MinJusticeEn
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SOURCE Department of Justice
Canada